THE mother of a two-year-old boy murdered with an air gun has spoken of her total delight after tough new restrictions on licensing the weapons were finally passed by MSPs
Andrew Morton's mother Sharon McMillan spoke out after the milestone at Holyrood, a decade after the two-year-old was shot in the head by Mark Bonini in Glasgow.
Ms McMillan, who attended with Andrew's father, Andy Morton said she hoped the legislation requiring owners to hold licences for airguns would be known as 'Andrew's Law'.
She added: "We are totally delighted that this day has finally come. It is a step in the right direction. I know it isn't an outright ban, but it is the next best thing to it. I would love to see the guns getting banned altogether, but I know that farmers and pest control need it for work.
"We have a good future to look forward to, knowing that we have actually achieved something for him."
The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill also places tougher regulations on pubs, strip bars, taxi firms and scrap dealers.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said the move followed through on an SNP manifesto commitments made ahead of the last two Holyrood elections.
He added: "Our proposals have not always been universally welcomed but we believe they strike the right balance between respecting the interests of those people who shoot legitimately for work, sport, pest control or leisure, and the need to ensure that those who misuse guns do not have access to them."
Mr Matheson said the legislation was not a ban on air weapons, but would prevent those who "deliberately and maliciously" target people, animals and property from accessing them.
Alongside the introduction of the airgun licensing rules, the Bill includes wider reform of the licensing regime in Scotland, giving councils the power to reject applications for new pubs, off-licences, lap dancing clubs and private hire cars on the grounds that there are too many in the area.
The Bill also imposes new regulations on scrap metal dealers to cut down on theft, including a requirement to get proper identification from those selling scrap and refuse payment in cash.
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